Lake Valley Seed Videos

June is Pollinator Month and the week of June 17th-23rd is also observed as National Pollinator Week. The Pollinator Partnership, which initiated Pollinator Week way back in the aughts, has chosen the Flower Fly as the Pollinator of the Year. Flower Flies hail from the family Syrphidae, from the Greek súrphos, meaning gnat or winged ant. These flower lovers often have traits that mimic bees and wasps, with one notable exception, they have a much less prickly demeanor. That's right, Flower Flies are stingless impersonators. Though they may resemble bees in color and pattern, they do not sting, and unlike flies, they do not bite. They are all buzz and no bluster. With over 6,000 different species around the world visiting over 70% of all cultivated crops and wildflowers, the Flower Flies are considered to be the second most important pollinator; the first of course being bees. Furthermore, the larvae of some species are predators, helping to keep aphids, thrips, and other pests in check. So how can you help to welcome these supportive syrphids to your garden? Flower flies, having smaller mouth parts, prefer the easier access of open flowers, such as chamomile, strawberries, daisies, and echinacea. They also tend to favor white and yellow flowers best of all. Be sure to include a selection of their favorite flowers for each blooming season and your garden will be all the buzz! #LakeValleySeed #FlowerSeed #FlowerFly #PollinatorMonth #PollinatorWeek #PollinatorOfTheYear

Meet the Flower Fly!
June National Pollinator Month and the week of June 17th-23rd is also observed as National Pollinator Week. The Pollinator Partnership, which initiated Pollinator Week way back in the aughts, has chosen the Flower Fly as the Pollinator of the Year. Flower Flies hail from the family Syrphidae, from the Greek súrphos, meaning gnat or winged ant. These flower lovers often have traits that mimic bees and wasps, with one notable exception, they have a much less prickly demeanor. That's right, Flower Flies are stingless impersonators. Though they may resemble bees in color and pattern, they do not sting, and unlike flies, they do not bite. They are all buzz and no bluster. With over 6,000 different species around the world visiting over 70% of all cultivated crops and wildflowers, the Flower Flies are considered to be the second most important pollinator; the first of course being bees. Furthermore, the larvae of some species are predators, helping to keep aphids, thrips, and other pests in check. So how can you help to welcome these supportive syrphids to your garden? Flower flies, having smaller mouth parts, prefer the easier access of open flowers, such as chamomile, strawberries, daisies, and echinacea. They also tend to favor white and yellow flowers best of all. Be sure to include a selection of their favorite flowers for each blooming season and your garden will be all the buzz! #LakeValleySeed #FlowerSeed #FlowerFly #PollinatorMonth #PollinatorWeek #PollinatorOfTheYear

June 11th is National Corn on the Cob Day!! Lake Valley Seed Peaches & Cream Sweet Corn is a very early and exceptionally delicious bicolor sweet corn. Ears average 8″ long, and have both white and yellow sugar-sweet kernels. Ears are ready to pick about 20 days after silks appear, and when silk at the tip of the ear is brown and dry. Matures in 80 Days & ears hold their flavor for up to 14 days after maturity. #LakeValleySeed #GardenSeed #SweetCorn #Peaches&CreamCorn

June is Pollinator Month!!!! We talk a lot about how important Milkweed is as a host plant for Monarch butterflies, but these plants are also host plants for various moths and butterflies. Parsley, dill and fennel host Black Swallowtail butterfly caterpillars. Wild Lupine, Lupinus perennis, an important component of our Butterfly Meadow wildflower mix, is the chosen host plant of the endangered Karner Blue butterfly. Additionally, Texas Bluebonnet Lupine is host to several butterflies, including the Grey Hairstreak and Elfin. Blanket Flower Gaillardia is the host flower to the Gaillardia flower moth and the Painted schinia moth, who’s colors and pattern mimic the flowers bright appearance. Echinacea, and other members of the family Asteraceae, including sunflowers, rudbeckia and asters, are host to the Silvery checkerspot butterfly. Blazing Star flower(not pictured), Liatris spp. is the host plant to two types of Schinia moths, who feed exclusively on this genus. The Bee Balm, Monarda spp.(not pictured) is host to the orange mint and hermit sphinx moths. You can find these flower seeds and more at lakevalleyseed. com and in local nuseries and hardware stores across the United States. #LakeValleySeed #GardenSeed #PollinatorGarden #PollinatorMonth

Small Spaces, Big Results!
Don’t let limited space keep you from growing delicious, fresh vegetables! These varieties stay compact making them the perfect choice for container gardening. • The Patio Pride Pea could have you enjoying fresh sweet peas in just over a month! A prolific producer for its 2’ height. • Tumbler Bush Tomato happily produces lots of sweet cherry-sized tomatoes while growing in a container, pot or tub. • Grow fast-producing clusters of mild, sweet eggplants on your patio or sunny balcony. This compact plant produces petite fruits 4-6” long, with tender skin. • Enjoy sweet, bite size Golden Nugget Tomatoes, perfect for snacking straight from the garden. • Heavy fruit production in a small amount of space makes Mini Belle Red Peppers perfect for containers and small gardens. • Lettuce is also a great choice for compact gardening. I particularly like the Grand Rapids variety because it’s quick to mature and slow to bolt. Lettuce doesn’t like to be crowded, so thin to suit the container. • Biquinho Hot Peppers are not only tasty, they’re also pretty. This compact plant looks lovely in fruit, covered in 1” bright red, teardrop shaped peppers. To learn more about these fantastic compact varieties visit lakevalleyseed.com

Don’t let limited space keep you from growing delicious, fresh vegetables! These varieties stay compact making them the perfect choice for container gardening. • The Patio Pride Pea could have you enjoying fresh sweet peas in just over a month! A prolific producer for it’s 2’ height. • Tumbler Bush Tomato happily produces lots of sweet cherry-sized tomatoes while growing in a container, pot or tub. • Grow fast-producing clusters of mild, sweet eggplants on your patio or sunny balcony. This compact plant produces petite fruits 4-6” long, with tender skin. • Enjoy sweet, bite size Golden Nugget Tomatoes, perfect for snacking straight from the garden. • Heavy fruit production in a small amount of space makes Mini Belle Red Peppers perfect for containers and small gardens. • Lettuce is also a great choice for compact gardening. I particularly like the Grand Rapids variety because it’s quick to mature and slow to bolt. Lettuce doesn’t like to be crowded, so thin to suit the container. • Biquinho Hot Peppers are not only tasty, they’re also pretty. This compact plant looks lovely in fruit, covered in 1” bright red, teardrop shaped peppers. To learn more about these fantastic compact varieties visit lakevalleyseed.com

Here's a short list of some seeds to sow in may! It should be safe across most of the United States to direct sow these seeds now. #LakeValleySeed #GardenSeed #VegetableSeed #HerbSeeds

We talk a lot about how important Milkweed is as a host plant for Monarch butterflies, but these plants are also host plants for various moths and butterflies. Parsley, dill and fennel host Black Swallowtail butterfly caterpillars. Wild Lupine, Lupinus perennis, an important component of our Butterfly Meadow wildflower mix, is the chosen host plant of the endangered Karner Blue butterfly. Additionally, Texas Bluebonnet Lupine is host to several butterflies, including the Grey Hairstreak and Elfin. Blanket Flower Gaillardia is the host flower to the Gaillardia flower moth and the Painted schinia moth, who’s colors and pattern mimic the flowers bright appearance. Echinacea, and other members of the family Asteraceae, including sunflowers, rudbeckia and asters, are host to the Silvery checkerspot butterfly. Blazing Star flower(not pictured), Liatris spp. is the host plant to two types of Schinia moths, who feed exclusively on this genus. The Bee Balm, Monarda spp.(not pictured) is host to the orange mint and hermit sphinx moths. You can find these flower seeds and more at lakevalleyseed.com

The first full week of May is National Wildflower week! So, we wanted to share some of our favorite wildflowers with you! • Nectar rich Penstemon is a favorite of hummingbirds & butterflies. It blooms the first year and will return year after year. • Texas Bluebonnet Lupine is the state flower of Texas but grows easily in most regions across the US. This lovely scented member of the pea family is a larval host to the Hairstreak and Elfin butterflies. • Cleome, also known as Spider Flowers, is a tall, heat loving summer bloomer. These highly drought resistant beauties will continue to bloom until the first frost. • The Rocky Mountain Columbine is the State flower of Colorado, where it grows wild at higher elevations. Though they require a little patience, since they begin blooming in their second season, they are well worth the wait. • Coreopsis' sunny yellow “daisy-like” flowers appear in late spring to early autumn. Easy to grow from seed. Coreopsis loves hot, dry weather and can withstand considerable drought once established. Perfect for the xeriscape garden! • Blue Flax is both beautiful and useful. It is from this plant that flaxseed or linseed oil, as well as linen, are made. Though delicate in appearance, Flax is quite drought tolerant & hardy. • Salvia is a member of the Sage family. It is a pollinator favorite, that is drought tolerant and helps combat soil erosion. • Gaillardia brings bright firework pops of color to your garden. Requiring very little water after established, they will bloom non-stop from June until hard frost. These plants are also a larval host to several types of moths. • Alpine Aster is a cold weather perennial in the daisy family. The hardy, drought tolerant, petite purple flowers bloom late spring to mid-summer. You may have noticed a theme with these wildflowers. Wildflowers have a strong tendency to be hardier, more drought tolerant, & more beneficial for their habitat. Some of them are also cru

Perfect flowers for the Cutting Garden Part 2 – Annuals These are some of our favorite annuals that don't always get as much attention. Cut & Come again Zinnias will fill your cutting garden with cheerful color all summer long. Globe Amaranth is just as beautiful dried as it is fresh. Long lasting, heat & drought tolerant. Lovely orange, bright yellow, cream, and apricot Pacific Beauty Calendula bloom continuously in cool weather. Perfect for containers and borders. Easy to grow in almost any conditions. Pacific Statice features dense clusters of delicate, brightly colored, long-lasting flowers. Its decorative sprays of papery flowers make statice a favorite for drying. An All America Selections award winner in 1951, Tithonia is a favorite of gardeners and butterflies alike. Tetra Giant Snapdragons features showy heads with larger, more brightly colored blossoms than common snapdragon. Thrives in cooler temperatures and tolerates light frost. Low maintenance and easy to grow. Other annual flowers that make a great addition to your cutting garden are Cosmos, Sunflowers, Salvia, Lace Flower, Dahlias, & Strawflower. #lakeValleySeed #FlowerSeed #CutFlowerGarden #AnnualFlowers

These are some of our favorite perennials to include in your cutting garden. They offer a nice range of color as well as differing blooming periods! • Sunset Garden Gaillardia is a beautiful firework of color which begins blooming in early summer and continue until hard frost. • Magic Fountains Delphinium bring beautiful shades of blues and purples to your spring garden. • The blushing fuchsia of purple coneflower Echinacea graces summer gardens, beckoning bees and butterflies. • Carnations are a cut flower staple, due in part to their longevity in a vase. These mixed color Chabaud Carnations will bring a range of colors and lovely scent to your garden late spring through midsummer. • Black Eyed Susans will bring cheery brightness to your garden beginning in midsummer. • Iceland Poppies are not from Iceland at all but are actually native to subarctic N. America & parts of Asia. As their name might suggest, these flowers do prefer cooler temperatures. In zones 1-8 sowing in fall or early spring can provide continuous blooms. Zones 9 and up may sow these in the fall, for blooms throughout the winter & spring.

Edible flowers Did you know that some flowers are not just beautiful, they’re also edible! Edible flowers can be used as a garnish in your favorite dishes and drinks. They can also be used, like spices and herbs, as an added ingredient when cooking and baking. They add lovely pops of color & delicate floral flavors. They can be used fresh or dried. Dried flowers and petals can be stored in an airtight container for several months. Some edible flowers include Nasturtiums, Violets, Pansies, Sunflowers, Marigolds, Batchlor’s Buttons, Calendula, Echinacea, Dianthus, & Snapdragons, among others. Have you ever considered growing an edible flower garden? We’d love to hear about how you use flowers in your dishes! #LakeValleySeed #GardenSeed #FlowerSeed #EdibleFlowers

Cucuzzi Squash (Lagenaria siceraria) Though its common name might lead one to believe the Lagenaria siceraria is a squash, it is in fact a type of gourd. Descendent from Bottle Gourds of Africa, the Cucuzzi are an Italian favorite. These heirloom seeds, first brought to the U.S. by Italian immigrants have been passed down through generations and are now grown in home gardens around the world. Nicknamed the Serpent of Sicily & Snake Gourd because of its whimsical shape, this vining gourd is perfect for growing along fences & trellises. Plant seeds outdoors when soil temperatures reach 70 degrees. If left to grow on the ground, fruit may form spirals and curls. These sprawling plants produce mature fruit in around 75 days. Flavor is best when fruit is harvested young, at 8″ long and 2″ diameter. This gourd is most often prepared like a squash & is an excellent alternative to zucchini. It has tougher skin than zucchini however, so simply peel, then grill, bake, or sauté, and enjoy! #LakeValleySeed #GardenSeed #Cucuzzi #VegetableSeed

Cosmos- The flower that keeps on giving! Cosmos are beautiful and long blooming members of the Aster family. Asteraceae also includes sunflowers, dahlias, and daisies, to name a few. Cosmos will typically begin blooming in early to mid-summer and continue until the first frost. They come in a variety of colors from red, pinks & purples to yellows & oranges. The most common Cosmos varieties are the Cosmos sulphureus, which is known for red, orange, and yellow flowers, and Cosmos bipinnatus, which produces flowers in shades of white, pink, burgundy, and lavender. They are easy to grow from seed & require little tending. They germinate quickly, typically within 10 days of planting and are tolerant of poor soil, heat, and drought. Great for both container gardens and flower beds. Long lasting blooms are perfect for bouquets. Cut flowers usually last about 5-6 days in a vase. Harvest flowers just before buds open for the longest lasting bouquet. Cutting encourages a second round of blooms for the plants in your flower beds. A pollinator favorite! Making Cosmos a great addition to both vegetable gardens & flower beds. Including pollinator favorites in your vegetable garden can help to increase crop yields! #LakeValleySeed #GardenSeed #FlowerSeed #CosmosFlowers

Cosmos- The flower that keeps on giving! Cosmos are beautiful and long blooming members of the Aster family. Asteraceae also includes sunflowers, dahlias, and daisies, to name a few. Cosmos will typically begin blooming in early to mid-summer and continue until the first frost. They come in a variety of colors from red, pinks & purples to yellows & oranges. The most common Cosmos varieties are the Cosmos sulphureus, which is known for red, orange, and yellow flowers, and Cosmos bipinnatus, which produces flowers in shades of white, pink, burgundy, and lavender. They are easy to grow from seed & require little tending. They germinate quickly, typically within 10 days of planting and are tolerant of poor soil, heat, and drought. Great for both container gardens and flower beds. Long lasting blooms are perfect for bouquets. Cut flowers usually last about 5-6 days in a vase. Harvest flowers just before buds open for the longest lasting bouquet. Cutting encourages a second round of blooms for the plants in your flower beds. A pollinator favorite! Making Cosmos a great addition to both vegetable gardens & flower beds. Including pollinator favorites in your vegetable garden can help to increase crop yields! #LakeValleySeed #GardenSeed #FlowerSeed #CosmosFlowers

Lake Valley Seed Peaches & Cream Sweet Corn is a very early and exceptionally delicious bicolor sweet corn. Ears average 8″ long, and have both white and yellow sugar-sweet kernels. Ears are ready to pick about 20 days after silks appear, and when silk at the tip of the ear is brown and dry. Matures in 80 Days & ears hold their flavor for up to 14 days after maturity. #LakeValleySeed #GardenSeed #SweetCorn #Peaches&CreamCorn

Deciding between Determinate & Indeterminate- Determinate tomatoes set all of their fruit at the same time. This means that all of the fruit for the plant becomes ripe at the same time. This is great for canning large batches of sauces or salsas. Determinate tomatoes may also be a better choice for some container gardens as the plants stop growing when they set their fruit. These tomatoes can require a bit more planning and preparation in order to use all of the ripe fruit at once. Indeterminate tomatoes continue growing and producing fruit throughout the season, with their fruits becoming ripe independent of each other. These tomatoes are great if you would like a continues supply of a few tomatoes every few days. These tomatoes may require more space and additional fertilization as they continue to spread their vines.

Are you a gardeneer looking for a safe and natural way to keep squirrels out of your garden this summer? We have the seeds you need! #LakeValleySeed #FlowerSeed #GardenSeed #VegetableSeed #Herbs

Chioggia Beets